Displaying results 1 - 25 of 25
Policy library
Jan. 7, 2023

Tools to download that will help you run advocacy meetings with MPP's on Queen's Park Day (QPD).

Jan. 7, 2023

Tools to download that will help you run advocacy meetings with MPP's on Queen's Park Day (QPD).

This toolkit will support your Take your MPP to work event.

June 8, 2023
RNAO President Dr. Claudette Holloway and CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun released Nursing Career Pathways report during a media conference moderated by Morgan Hoffarth, immediate past president. The report illustrates the many education and career opportunities within the nursing profession, and outlines how nurses play a central role when it comes to the health of Ontarians. It details the barriers that stand in the way of a thriving profession and the opportunities to ensure the retention and recruitment of nurses with a set of wide-ranging recommendations.
Policy library
Feb. 5, 2024

In a groundbreaking report, the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario’s (RNAO) Black Nurses Task Force (BNTF) unveiled recommendations to tackle structural racism within nursing organizations, regulatory bodies, associations and the broader health system.

March 2, 2023

Nursing Career Pathways examines the nursing profession and the opportunities before the government to build nursing careers and fix Ontario’s health system.

May 12, 2022

This report outlines a number of recommendations geared to retain nurses in the profession and build Ontario’s registered nurse (RN) workforce, such as repealing Bill 124, expediting applications and finding pathways for internationally educated nurses, and more.

March 1, 2021

RNAO’s Work and Wellbeing Survey Results tells the story of nurses and a nursing workforce under considerable stress and strain as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. While all nurses have been affected by the pandemic, how they experience levels of stress and strain are as unique as the nurses themselves as they struggle with job demands and their own life circumstances. 

Feb. 25, 2021

On Feb. 25, 2021, RNAO released the Nurse Practitioner Task Force report, Vision for Tomorrow. This report features eight recommendations that reflect RNAO’s unwavering advocacy for increased NP supply, utilization and scope. The implementation of these recommendations must begin immediately with co-ordinated action from government, academic, health service and association stakeholders.

Feb. 5, 2020

Enhancing Community Care for Ontarians (ECCO) 3.0 calls on the government and health system partners to strengthen community care and anchor the health system in primary care to better meet the health needs of all Ontarians. First released in 2012 and next in 2014, ECCO 3.0 aligns with much needed health system transformation that responds to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

May 1, 2016

Ontario's population is aging and its needs are changing. If we're going to keep pace, we can't get tripped up by short-sighted budgetary decisions. We need the right care providers at the right time, and that means reclaiming the role of the registered nurse in the name of patient safety.

April 12, 2014

In October 2012, the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) issued Enhancing Community Care for Ontarians (ECCO) 2.0, a bold model for health system transformation. Subject to significant praise, debate and discussion, this model generated timely and important dialogue on how to make the system more integrated and person‐centred, while ensuring the ongoing sustainability of a publicly‐funded and not‐for‐profit delivery model. 

Oct. 1, 2012

The ECCO model proposes that interprofessional primary care organizations, such as community health centres (CHC), nurse practitioner-led clinics (NPLC), Aboriginal health access centres (AHAC) and family health teams (FHT) expand their reach and role over the next three years, with the support of a temporary LHIN-led primary care transitional secretariat to organize local geographic primary care networks.

June 12, 2012

Primary Solutions for Primary Care: Maximizing and Expanding the Role of the Primary Care Nurse in Ontario is a blueprint to maximize and expand the role of primary care nurses, paving the path for other health professionals in Ontario. To benefit the public, we call on government and its agencies, professional associations, trade unions, regulatory bodies, educators, clinicians and employers to embrace and promptly implement the recommendations in this report.

March 1, 2024
The criminalization of simple drug possession in cities across Ontario is costing lives. Toronto is no exception. On May 15, RNAO wrote to candidates in Toronto’s 2023 by-election for mayor asking them to sign a pledge to support decriminalizing simple drug possession in Toronto. Find out which candidates signed the pledge.
April 1, 2024
Nurses and the public take action on matters of healthy public policy.
Aug. 15, 2022
Our economic and social circumstances affect our health. The environment also affects our health. These are important issues at stake in the election. Vote for your health.
Feb. 6, 2024
The creation of conditions for all Ontarians' health and wellness depends in large part on how and how much the federal and provincial governments spend on health care and the social and environmental determinants of health.
April 24, 2024
A significant increase to the nurse practitioner workforce in Ontario is long overdue. RNAO’s "Vision for Tomorrow" report puts forward eight recommendations for expanding and supporting the supply of and use of NPs in Ontario.
April 24, 2024
For over a decade, Canadians have been dying at an increasing rate from opioid overdoses. Between January 2016 and December 2021, nearly 30,000 Canadians died from an opioid overdose. Ontario is not immune to this tragedy.
Dec. 6, 2023
Chronic underfunding and understaffing across all health sectors in Ontario, and the relentless replacement of RNs and NPs with less qualified health-care workers, is challenging the effectiveness of RNs and NPs and the system as a whole.
April 24, 2024
Through our advocacy work, ongoing consultations with the Ontario government, we are vigilant in our mission to enhance the nursing profession. Members are often among the first to learn of proposed changes to public policy and members often provide input in policy making decisions. RNAO regularly monitors and responds to issues relating to the nursing workforce, scope of practice, nursing culture and safety, education and regulation with evidence-based recommendations. RNAO continues to sound the alarm on the need to put more resources into primary care, home and community care to decrease the number of patients in hospital.
Dec. 6, 2023
An aging long-term care resident population with increasing medical complexity calls for increased care from staff with the right skill mix, yet Ontario continues to underfund and understaff homes. Residents and staff deserve better.

Primary Solutions for Primary Care - 2012

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The Primary Care Nurse Task Force was launched by the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) in response to the gross under-utilization of thousands of primary care nurses – registered nurses (RNs) and registered practical nurses (RPNs) – in Ontario’s health system. Bringing together key stakeholders from across the health system, we engaged in factual and evidence-based discussions that were open, thoughtful, and respectful. The result is a report that offers a fair and balanced analysis and practical solutions to improve primary care. The goal is simple: improve access to timely, quality, and person-centred care for the public.

Enhancing Community Care for Ontarians (ECCO) 2.0 - 2014

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In October 2012, the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) issued Enhancing Community Care for Ontarians (ECCO) 2.0, a bold model for health system transformation. Subject to significant praise, debate and discussion, this model generated timely and important dialogue on how to make the system more integrated and person‐centred, while ensuring the ongoing sustainability of a publicly‐funded and not‐for‐profit delivery model. Today, more than ever, we believe the dialogue must continue in a transparent way that is open to the public. To this end, RNAO is issuing ECCO 2.0.     

Enhancing Community Care for Ontarians (ECCO) – A Three Year Plan - 2012

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Ontario’s nurses call on government and stakeholders to collectively strengthen our publicly-funded, not-for-profit health system and make it more responsive to the public’s needs, easier to navigate and more efficient and cost-effective. To make this happen, focus must be placed on advancing primary health care for all through health promotion, disease prevention, social and environmental determinants of health and community care. Equally important are changes that enable nurses and all other regulated health professionals to work to their full scope of practice, a commitment to reducing structural duplication, and advancing system integration and alignment.

The ECCO model proposes that interprofessional primary care organizations, such as community health
centres (CHC), nurse practitioner-led clinics (NPLC), Aboriginal health access centres (AHAC) and family
health teams (FHT) expand their reach and role over the next three years, with the support of a
temporary LHIN-led primary care transitional secretariat to organize local geographic primary care
networks.

Black Nurses Task Force (BNTF) Report - 2022

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In a groundbreaking report, the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario’s (RNAO) Black Nurses Task Force (BNTF) unveiled recommendations to tackle structural racism within nursing organizations, regulatory bodies, associations and the broader health system.

The BNTF Report: Acknowledging, Addressing and Tackling Anti-Black Racism and Discrimination Within the Nursing Profession features 19 recommendations. The task force was guided in its work by four main pillars: education and awareness building; research; advocacy at all levels; and partnership with allies and stakeholders. This report also includes information from a scoping review of the literature and results from an online survey of 205 Black nurses across Ontario.

Mind the Safety Gap in Health System Transformation - 2016

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When you’re sick, you expect to be cared for by the right provider to keep you healthy and safe. But that is not always the case in our province these days.

Ontario has the lowest RN-to-population ratio in the country. To cut costs, registered nurses (RN) are being replaced with less qualified and less expensive care providers.

RNs are trained to provide person-centred care for patients with the most complex needs, and evidence shows RN care reduces complications and deaths. So having fewer RNs means your safety is at risk.

Ontario's population is aging and its needs are changing. If we're going to keep pace, we can't get tripped up by short-sighted budgetary decisions. We need the right care providers at the right time, and that means reclaiming the role of the RN in the name of patient safety.

Learn more about RNAO's research and recommendations by reading Mind the Safety Gap in Health System Transformation.

Enhancing Community Care for Ontarians (ECCO) 3.0 - 2020

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Enhancing Community Care for Ontarians (ECCO) 3.0 calls on the government and health system partners to strengthen community care and anchor the health system in primary care to better meet the health needs of all Ontarians. First released in 2012 and next in 2014, ECCO 3.0 aligns with much needed health system transformation that responds to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Work and Wellbeing Survey Results - 2021

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RNAO’s Work and Wellbeing Survey Results tells the story of nurses and a nursing workforce under considerable stress and strain as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While all nurses have been affected by the pandemic, how they experience levels of stress and strain are as unique as the nurses themselves as they struggle with job demands and their own life circumstances.

The survey results point to the need for better supports for nurses – particularly from government and employers – as they attempt to manage the impacts of the pandemic, both at work and at home. While virtually no one claims to have escaped the impacts of the pandemic, the survey results reveals certain sectors of the health system, domains of practice and age cohorts are under particular strain.

Nursing Through Crisis - 2022

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This report outlines a number of recommendations geared to retain nurses in the profession and build Ontario’s registered nurse (RN) workforce, such as repealing Bill 124, expediting applications and finding pathways for internationally educated nurses, and more. It also outlines four new RNAO programs aimed to address nurses’ needs for better workplace supports, more professional development opportunities and more control over their working lives:

  • Advanced Clinical Practice Fellowship program
  • Leadership and Management for Nurses program
  • Mentorship for Nurses program
  •  Nursing Student Preceptor for Long-Term Care program

Nursing Career Pathways - 2023

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Visit our Nursing Career Pathways page

Nursing Career Pathways examines the nursing profession and the opportunities before the government to build nursing careers and fix Ontario’s health system.

“This report will encourage nurses to reflect on their role and become inspired by their colleagues, their profession, and most importantly, themselves. Our report celebrates all nurses.”

Dr. Claudette Holloway

RNAO President

This report also highlights the barriers to retaining and recruiting nurses in Ontario – inadequate and inequitable compensation and unsafe and unhealthy workloads – and identifies opportunities for short-term and long-term improvements.

Vision for Tomorrow - 2021

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Vision for Tomorrow and its recommendations represent the collective experience and expertise of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario’s (RNAO) Nurse Practitioner Task Force (NPTF). The 20 members of the NPTF work in all sectors of the health system and were led by co-chairs Dr. Doris Grinspun, RNAO CEO, and Dr. Elissa Ladd, deputy director of the International Council of Nurses’ Nurse Practitioner/Advance Practice Nurse Network Global Academy of Research and Enterprise.

This report is additionally informed by systematic and comprehensive literature reviews documenting key new directions for nurse practitioner roles and relationships, key informant interviews, and a scan of health systems in Canada and around the world. 

March 1, 2024
RNAO board of directors calls on the Ontario government to ‘walk the talk’ and meet its obligation to residents living in long-term care (LTC) homes in COVID & non-COVID times.
March 1, 2024
Enhancing Community Care for Ontarians (ECCO) calls on the government and health system partners to strengthen community care and anchor the health system in primary care to better meet the health needs of all Ontario residents.
March 1, 2024
Deep crisis in nursing demands urgent action by government, employers, educators and associations.